Design Details for a Water Wheel Test Rig

[Lurk]

After reading the thread by our university student member - I quite fancy building a scale model test rig which I can manually lift into various streams in my area and record the power potential.  I do appreciate that each installation should be carefully measured to determine the most appropriate technology for head, flow, etc etc - humour me please, I want to try to get a bit of interest from the locals to see if we can get a community based project of the ground.

Can anyone recommend an online resource where I can get the design details / formulas for water wheels (stream wheel / undershot) which might enable me to come up with a design which I could link to a small variable speed gearbox and PMG with variable load.... (the later bit is a headache in itself)... any advise appreciated.
Lurk

[Lurk]

Not too many ideas then ?

[Richard Owen]

I think there are easier ways to measure power potential.

You can easily measure head with a long hose pipe and pressure gauge.

You can measure flow with an orange.

Unless the stream is flowing through very difficult terrain, you can take a reasonable stab at volume.

Once you've got those numbers, you know the power potential.

[Lurk]

I appreciate that Richard, but, nothing tells the story like showing a 'working model' lighting up bulbs for example. From the people I have talked with, their eyes glaze over as soon as I start mentioning 'potential'..maybe its me ! I am keen to hear how the model performed in the other thread...
That aside, I thought there must be a set of schematics that show the key design formula for water wheels of the under shot variety - the variable of flow rate can then be added to give the options for output at differing locations. Head is as I understand undershot wheels of less importance - thats why undershot and stream wheels were developed - i.e for little to know head locations.
Looks like I will have to try the books and patent papers from a long time back.

[guydewdney]

try a book called 'stronger than a hundred men' as a reasonable reference to scientific testing of waterwheels, but as undershot is quite inefficient, it has been superseded by sagebien / poncelot etc.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stronger-than-Hundred-Men-Technology/dp/0801872480/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328352359&sr=8-1


edit - found on amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-Construction-Efficiency-Water-wheels-Donaldson/dp/0554931397/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

[Baz]

Our village looked at the possibility of a community water power project as we have several disused leats giving 100ft head in the village. No problem getting people interested. The £50k for the turbine install and volunteer labour to restore the leat all looked feasable. However it was instantly made unecenomic by a massive factor by the £50k environmental survey and £50k for bullshit paperwork to satisfy the National Park planners.

[Lurk]

Hi Baz - which Park are you in ?

[billi]

Here is  lots of  information unfortunately only in German ,  so i hope one can understand the google translate version

loads of  interesting  pics

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.buch-der-synergie.de%2Fc_neu_html%2Fc_06_01_wasser_geschichte_wasserkraft_1.htm&act=url

[Lurk]

Cheers - lots of references and useful ideas. hours of fun ! 

[RobNute]

Hi Lurk, here are some things that you may find interesting.

http://www.waterwheelfactory.com/poncelet.htm

http://sleekfreak.ath.cx:81/3wdev/VITAHTML/SUBLEV/EN1/WTRWHEEL.HTM

http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12399.0.html

I love the idea of a community based project but I wonder just how big an undershot wheel you would have to have to even cover a few houses electricity needs let alone a whole village etc, keep us posted.

Best wishes

Rob

[Lurk]

Thanks Rob, it will be interesting to see if the local interest and local gov' planners NRA etc etc can share a common goal - I have my own views !
Will keep you posted.

Lurk